As I look back on 2024, I feel proud of all that our region has accomplished, especially in a year that has continued to test the strength and spirit of our communities.
This year saw sustained progress for the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District as we launched our 2024-2026 strategic plan and reached the halfway mark of our board’s four-year mandate. It is an honour to work alongside such a talented team, and I am particularly grateful for Director Russell Mack stepping into the vice-chair role this past summer, and appreciative for the years of leadership our previous vice-chair, Director Vivian Birch-Jones, brought to the position.
Throughout 2024, we made meaningful strides on projects and partnerships that will shape the future of our region. Issues that are having major impact throughout our country and province – from the cost housing, to Indigenous rights and reconciliation, to climate change – have been top of mind here at home as well.
Housing initiatives included a comprehensive housing need and demand study which engaged residents to help guide the region’s housing strategies, and a regional affordable housing forum hosted by the SLRD in April, with over 50 attendees from local and First Nations governments, industry and non-profit organizations. Both provided valuable insights into affordability, adequacy, rental housing, and housing for varying needs and demographics, and will help shape the SLRD’s approach to housing development for years to come.
2024 also reminded us of the lasting effects disasters can have, as residents and staff continued, and still continue, to navigate the recovery process from the 2023 wildfire season. The resilience of those who were impacted cannot be understated, and inspires the SLRD’s efforts to keep adapting to the evolving complexities of climate-related emergencies. As staff supported ongoing recovery, the SLRD’s Emergency Operations Centre was also activated for a number of emergencies throughout the year. This included flooding in Pemberton Valley and Gates Lake, the Chilcotin landslide, which threatened to cause a debris outburst flood, and summer wildfire monitoring. Disaster preparedness and mitigation, as well as our ability to respond and recover when disasters do happen, remained top priorities.
The SLRD’s 2024 FireSmart Program was a vital part of this work, and will keep advancing in 2025. We saw historic levels of community participation and engagement with more than 200 home assessments, the expansion of the FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition program, and community-focused events supporting wildfire risk reduction, including two farm and ranch preparedness workshops. While seasonal readiness work prepared the region for wildfire season, a review completed in July focused on how we can best support Fire Services across the SLRD to keep our communities safe year-round. Progress to date has been impressive, with notable advancements in the Britannia Beach and Garibaldi Volunteer Fire Departments.
Targeted risk reduction work that began in 2024 and will proceed in the coming year includes: the development of a public notification and emergency communications plan funded by the Province of British Columbia’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) and working with regional partners to establish a broad monitoring and alerting system for Q̓welq̓welústen / Mount Meager, a dormant volcano and geologically active area prone to landslides. Grant funds are also being pursued to enhance our Emergency Support Services capacity.
The ongoing Catiline Creek debris flow mitigation structure project is set to begin construction in 2025. The goal of this project is to design, construct, operate and maintain a debris flow mitigation structure for Catiline Creek at Lillooet Lake Estates, reducing the risk to the community by increasing capacity of the existing channel to manage future debris flows through the community under a new forest service road bridge, and into Lillooet Lake.
Funding was also allocated to Tsal’alh to support the Seton Portage Flood Hazard Mitigation project, including an archeological assessment. Beyond disaster mitigation support, relational reconciliation work with local First Nations deepened in 2024.
In September, elected leaders and senior staff from local and St’át’imc governments, including the District of Lillooet, P’egp’íg’lha Council (T’ít’q’et), Sekw’el’was, Tsal’alh, Ts’kw’aylaxw, Xáxlí’p, Xwísten, the Lillooet Tribal Council, and the SLRD, gathered for a Community-to-Community forum, with the intention to strengthen relationships and identify shared concerns and priorities. Strong support was expressed from everyone present to find ways to enhance collaboration. Staff from participating organizations are now working together to organize a follow up meeting where leadership can discuss and confirm a mandate and process to enable continued collaboration.
In May, elected leaders and senior staff from Líĺwat Nation, the Village of Pemberton, Samahquam and the SLRD came together for the fourth Nuk̓w7ántwal̓ Regional Gathering. Focused on strengthening relationships and fostering mutual understanding, the day provided an opportunity to engage in active listening to the Líl̓wat7úl’s history of the area, and meaningful dialogue. Key themes that emerged included the importance of storytelling, the continuing impact of intergenerational trauma, the opportunity to involve more youth, the importance of self-awareness and the need to continue collaborating. Plans are underway for another regional gathering in 2025, and staff from participating organizations are working on ways to engage our communities in shared learning and relationship building efforts.
Across all efforts, advancements of our regional priorities would not have been possible without the collaboration and hard work of our dedicated staff, local leaders, partners, and community members. As we close out 2024, I am optimistic for the year ahead and grateful for your ongoing support.
Don't forget to visit the SLRD website, freshly revamped in 2024, for the latest news, notices, announcements and meeting information throughout 2025.
Jen Ford
SLRD Board Chair